Very heavy book to read emotionally. I hope the author finds a way to breathe and live unencumbered someday.

I read this book for a Latinas/BIPOC book club and it was very enjoyable even with the heavier topics the author shared in her story. As it was released this year the content of her story was very current and relatable especially as a fellow Mexican American femme person who grew up as a first gen immigrant in a Mexican family with all the pressures, expectations, and more that go into surviving and thriving in life. Big themes are the impact of racism, capitalism, classism, family separation and the harm of the model minority myth. I loved how the author wrote in such a relatable and human tone that didn’t tell how smart she was, it showed us. ♥️ thank you Elizabeth

i really enjoyed this memoir. the authors story is full of determination and perseverance. the fact that the author grew up in the place i was born and have lived my whole life definitely added a lot to this experience. it made me so proud and also excited when the author would mention somewhere i went as a kid. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. My Side of the River follows Elizabeth (and her family) as she navigates two worlds-being an American and being the child of immigrants. She writes in detail of the pressure she feels to be the best while feeling outside pressure that she isn't and never will be. Following her from a young age until young adulthood we see her struggle to become her own person without losing touch with where she comes from. 

I enjoyed this quite a bit, my only issue with the last couple of chapters not as in depth as the rest of the book. 

I love when a memoir dives into societal structures and concepts that are bigger than any one person, and this one perfectly finds that balance. Readers will be engrossed in the author’s story while also learning a lot about the policies and societal norms that impacted her life. Immigration, education, mental health, and poverty are some of the big societal ideas that are tackled in this book, done so in a way that shares the first-hand perspective of someone having to navigate all of these.

I originally picked up this book because the author went to school about a mile away from one of the many schools I attended growing up, and I loved seeing many aspects (both positive and negative) of the city through her eyes. It is so important that experiences such as hers are shared and put into the spotlight, especially in a time where government policies and media consistently try to dehumanize immigrants. 

I definitely recommend this book, and I’m grateful to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy!